Forum antique de Bavay

The Forum antique de Bavay is an archaeological site with Roman ruins and a modern museum displaying the remains of an ancient city. The excavations include building foundations, paved walkways, and standing walls that reveal the layout of the original Roman center.

The site was founded in the late first century BC as Bagacum Nerviorum and served as the administrative center of a Gallic people mentioned in Julius Caesar's writings. The city flourished over the following centuries before gradually declining in importance.

The museum displays 800 artifacts from the Roman period, including a notable Jupiter statuette, revealing details about daily life in ancient Gaul.

The site is easy to navigate on foot with marked paths through the excavations and an attached museum area with informational panels. A visit typically takes between one and two hours depending on your interest level.

The forum features the largest known Roman basilica, measuring 98 meters in length, dating from 150 AD within its tripartite enclosed layout.

Location: Bavay

Inception: 1976

Official opening: 1976

Phone: +33359731550

GPS coordinates: 50.29860,3.79105

Latest update: December 11, 2025 18:04